Course Description

Students identify a real-world challenge and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their unique solutions to a panel of engineers.

Class Projects

. Mini Projects:
JPL Annual Invention Challenge

• https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/inventionchallenge/2017/index.php
• Objective: Students form two teams in which they must create a device that is capable of throwing six wiffle balls a distance of 6 meters into a bucket that is 6 feet tall. Students will first complete in a regional competition against other local southern California High School Teams. If the teams competing pass the regional round they will get to complete at JPL for the final prize.

Halloween Animatronics Challenge

• http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/352468_5c4852a0348a4c01bbb4e32326bd8bf5.pdf
• Objective: Working in teams of three, students will utilize their acquired skills and previous knowledge from other courses to complete this mini-project. While completing these mini-project students will learn how to keep deadlines using time management, utilize school laboratories, and locate resources. While applying their previous knowledge, students will be researching, designing, and building your own animatronic Halloween prop to be tested in the innovation quad during the week of Halloween.

Reverse Engineering Challenge

• http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/352468_5fcf17cbf99247c3801cc902066a2ff2.pdf
• Objective: Working in pairs students will select an object that has 4 or more moveable parts and will "reverse" engineer the object. The overall goal of this project is for students to understand how something was assembled and the working parts within the object. Students will need to complete an inventor and drawing file that shows all of these working parts.

. Year Long Project:

• The knowledge and skills students acquire throughout PLTW Engineering come together in Engineering Design and Development as they identify an issue and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their solution to a panel of engineers. Students apply the professional skills they have developed to document a design process to standards, competing Engineering Design and Development ready to take on any post-secondary program or career.